Payson pro and cons for retirees (Phoenix, Scottsdale: sales, rentals, insurance)

[slangvel]

What are pros and cons about living in Payson for retirees. I know that is a real open ended question, but appreciate feedback.

[KurtAZ]

Well...all of my In Laws live in Payson and my FIL/MIL are retired so the issues they have:

Medical Care. Limited, most specialists are in the Valley or Flagstaff. Local Hospital is run by Banner Healthcare, arguably the WORST healthcare company in AZ. They overbill for everything. Previously, most folks carried Air Ambulance Insurance so that if you got really sick, you could take PHI Air to the Valley and it wouldn't cost much. Banner started their own air service and now they will charge you $18k if you need to be air evacuated to the Valley and revoked Native Air and PHI Air's privileges to the hospital's helipad.

Shopping is limited. WalMart, Big 5, Safeway and Basha's. If you like restaurants though...they have a ton of those. Most are fast food but there are some good diners.

Nothing for the kids in town to do...there is a bowling alley and a movie theatre so the teenagers tend to get into mischief. Lots of drug use and whatnot.

Payson is the state's largest pass through town. Lots of folks have cabins or go camping up on the Rim so Friday Afternoon, the town gets jam packed with flat landers coming up 87 and hanging a right onto 260. The reverse on Sunday starting at about noon. Accidents on 87 will cut off access to the Valley so you kind of have to plan for that.

Forest Fires...the town is in a dry forest. The Tonto and Apache-Sitegraves forests are regularly closed from Memorial Day until the monsoons hit in mid July. This does not stop the campers from going up there though and inevitably there will be some idiot that has an illegal campfire and starts a forest fire.

Other Traffic...if the 60 is closed for a fire/landslide/construction south of Show Low, the only way to get to Show Low is through Payson. This causes more traffic nightmares. Stock up and plan accordingly.

Internet reliability...the town is on a single feed from Centurylink that comes up from Camp Verde. Little known fact is that squirrels like to chew on Fiber so the Internet goes down for the town on a regular basis. Businesses have to close, cable goes out, etc. They are trying to get an alternate provider in town but it has been an uphill battle.

Local politics are interesting. Lots of staunch Conservatives and there is an ongoing battle between citizens in the town, the City Council and an organization called MHA. I'll let you research that one since it takes too much time to explain.

Some of the highest sales tax in the state. Median income is in the mid 30k range. Another debate going on about affordable housing. Speaking of housing, like most everywhere, their prices have sky-rocketed. A home you could have purchased for $250k 5 years ago is now going for $450k+ and there are NO rentals in town.

I am sure there are some I am forgetting but honestly...that is the bad, the good is most the people are very friendly, it is cooler than the Valley (they still hit over 100 last summer but that is rare), they get some snow and as long as you are okay with the small town dynamics, it is a comfortable little town.

My FIL/MIL have a group of friends they have game nights with. They take daily walks around Green Valley Lake. Hang out with their Church groups and are only 1.5hrs from us if they want to come down and go shopping or do anything else. There are a lot of historical sites and the forest to explore. Really depends on what you are into. My Brother in Law used to have a plane that he flew out of the airport there. If you are into off-roading there are a ton of trails. They don't golf but there are a couple really nice courses up there as well. They also have the oldest continuous Rodeo every year.

Sorry this got long-winded but if you search the forum on Payson...there are some threads on it.

[CCS414]

Originally Posted by KurtAZ

Payson is the state's largest pass through town. Lots of folks have cabins or go camping up on the Rim so Friday Afternoon, the town gets jam packed with flat landers coming up 87 and hanging a right onto 260. The reverse on Sunday starting at about noon. Accidents on 87 will cut off access to the Valley so you kind of have to plan for that.

At least its safer now. Was redesigned back in the early 2000's I think. The beeline highway used to be one of the most dangerous roads in the country.

[KurtAZ]

Originally Posted by CCS414

At least its safer now. Was redesigned back in the early 2000's I think. The beeline highway used to be one of the most dangerous roads in the country.

Well...yes and no. The old 2 lane design of 87 slowed up traffic and while I wouldn't say the road itself was dangerous...people are...that people factor hasn't been reduced. Every time we are on that highway there are people doing 80+ on a 65MPH highway. Towing trailers and RVs. Trash flying out of the back of their trucks. The old problem of impatient drivers has not been alleviated.

We won't even go into the aspect of poorly maintained vehicles, one of which started the Bush Fire in 2020 among others originating from car fires. Semi Trucks rolling over or breaking down and blocking the highway. 5th Wheels jack-knifed on the highway or broken down cause the operator overloaded them.

Anyway. Just Google "traffic accident Beeline".

[oily rag]

As a 20 year + resident of Payson and a refuge from Scottsdale, the following represents my opinion:

You will not like Payson if;

1. your wife is a mall shopper - pushing a shopping cart through Walmart has limited appeal.
2. you enjoy going out for excellent cuisine
3. you have any medical issues. Even finding a GP is challenging. Specialist are non-existent. Also at the 5000 ft level, the thin air becomes an issue for folks with lung issues
4. Air quality is poor in Winter because of fireplaces and wood stoves. However this is common to forested areas.
5. you need a lot of service support ie plumbers, appliance repair etc. ( very few available and expensive)
6. you need employment as there is almost zero opportunity - ok for retirement folks on a good income.
7. your previous home does not cover the expensive Payson home. RE here has gone through the roof.
8. Gila county taxes very high.

You will like Payson if;

1. you enjoy hiking and wildlife
2. you like the relaxed lifestyle (except when the flatlanders come through on weekends in the summer)
3. generally friendly neighbors
4. the need arises you are about 2 hours from the valley for excellent medical care.
5. you appreciate a 4 season climate with about 15 degrees cooler than Phoenix.